A Partnership that Benefits Southern Illinois

Banterra Bank is proud to partner with Rend Lake College to provide the largest corporate naming-rights agreement in the college's history.  This 10-year naming-rights agreement supports the Rend Lake College Foundation's $6.5 million capital campaign to renovate and expand the athletic facilities at Waugh Gymnasium, known as “The Game Plan”.  We’re proud to support the Rend Lake Warriors and continue to make a positive impact in Southern Illinois!

Read the full press release.

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Transcript of the Banterra Sports Complex naming rights partnership video

Julie Williams, News 3 Anchor

Thank you for joining us this evening, I'm Julie WIlliams. Tonight Rend Lake College got their biggest donation ever. Banterra Bank will give them $1 million for the naming rights of a new $6.5 million Sports Complex. New 3's Paul Wilcoxen joins us in studio tonight with this story. Good evening, Paul.

Paul Wilcoxen, News 3 Anchor

Yeah, Julie. Back in February, Rend Lake College unveiled what they're calling The Game Plan. It's a top to bottom renovation of the James Waugh Gymnasium. On Tuesday a major piece of that vision was made official with a partnership between Rend Lake College and Banterra Bank. 

Jeff May, Banterra Bank President & CEO

Yeah, it's definitely a community college and we're a community bank. There's an overlap in our missions because of that. 

Paul Wilcoxen, News 3 Anchor

From the moment he heard about The Game Plan, Banterra Bank President and CEO Jeff May was convinced it was a project worth investing in.

Jeff May, Banterra Bank President & CEO

When you're investing a lot of money into your communities you want to know the folks that are doing it know what they're doing.

Paul Wilcoxen, News 3 Anchor

And that's exactly what those with Rend Lake College and the RLC Foundation have shown which is why Banterra Bank and the college made it official Tuesday with the announcement that Banterra Bank will take on the naming rights to the new renovated Sports Complex.

Terry Wilkerson, Rend Lake College President

The gymnasium is where a lot of our students put in their effort and spend their time and that facility needs to reflect their caliber, so that's why we're upgrading.

Paul Wilcoxen, News 3 Anchor

Th RLC Foundation is responsible for $2 million of the needed $6.5 million for the project to break ground. Banterra Bank is taking care of half of that after today's announcement. Dawn Johnson is with the RLC Foundation and she describes the foundation's attitude when it comes to being presented with this project.

Dawn Johnson, Rend Lake College Foundation

We were ready to go! Throughout Southern Illinois, we truly are a community college and we hope that the community gets behind this.

Paul Wilcoxen, News 3 Anchor

In fact, this project will mark the first time in more than 50 years renovations have been done to the area and both the college and the foundation have been proactive in putting things together which made it easier for Banterra Bank to get involved. 

Jeff May, Banterra Bank President & CEO

They had a vision. They were able to show it to you and visualize it very quickly and it was easy to get on board. 

Paul Wilcoxen, News 3 Anchor

RLC President Terry Wilkerson says what makes RLC's partnership with Banterra Bank so meaningful is the common mission both have. 

Terry Wilkerson, Rend Lake College President

Their mission aligns a lot with ours, of what we try to do in the area and grow in the region. To make that kind of contribution, be that kind of partner, it's a good day for all of us. 

Paul Wilcoxen, News 3 Anchor

Now Julie, this is a 10-year partnership between RLC and Banterra Bank. Rend Lake College is targeting Fall 2024 for ground breaking and the new Sports Complex will be completed by sometime around the end of 2025. Reporting live in studio, Paul Wilcoxen, News 3.